Royal Icing Drop Flowers, Help!

I tried making drop flowers (tip 129) last night with royal icing. It wasnt pretty, all but a few look horrible. I am doing them left handed, dont know if that is part of it. But can someone give me some pointers on drop flowers with royal icing!!

If the petals are spreading it sounds like the icing is too thin - not too stiff. The only other thing that could make the petals spread is that you are dragging/moving the tip thru the flower instead of lifting it straight up & away. Does that tip have a nail in the center? It should protrude out of the tip about 1/8 to 1/4". That is to keep the prongs on the tip from being crushed if you exert pressure on them.

I've got to tell you - drop flowers are one thing I could never master, they just don't look right when I do them. So I don't LOL!!! I will cut them out of fondant before I will make drop flowers, of course if I could master them it would be much cheaper and easier

Whether I am using buttercream or royal icing - the icing sticks to the tip and pulls up. I was wondering if I can put cornstarch or powdered sugar on the tip to keep that from happening; anyone tried that or have another suggestion?